“The United States should support the desire of Israel to sit down and negotiate with the Arab states,” former President Harry S. Truman urged here last night, addressing an audience of 22,000 persons who at tended the celebration of the 3,000th anniversary of the City of Jerusalem. The celebration took place at the Chicago Stadium, under the auspices of the Israel Bond Organization.
Declaring that ” the present disorder and friction on the borders of Israel are deeply regrettable.” Mr. Truman said: “Jews, Arabs and the nations of the West will benefit only if peace is immediately concluded. This must be the goal of the United Nations of which Israel is one of the newest and most devoted members. Today we must work toward the ideal of peace and progress in the Middle East. Today we should support the desire of Israel to sit down and negotiate with the Arab states.”
Referring to Arab-Israel border incidents, Mr. Truman stated that “the present disorders and frictions on the borders of Israel are deeply regrettable” but he believes they can be solved. “I had faith in Israel when as President of the United States I recognized it. I have faith in it now. I believe that this new state will grow and become a bulwark of freedom,” Mr. Truman said. “It will take the same kind of courage to bring the new State of Israel to success as was displayed by Israel of old.”
Recognizing the importance of the Israel Bond campaign in strengthening the economic defences of Israel, the former President said that the Jewish community of Chicago was ” right in giving support to this great new venture in human freedom.” He predicted “a bright future not only for Israel but for the whole Middle East.”
A silver candelabrum made in Israel was presented to Mr. Truman by Col. Jacob Arvey, chairman of the festival. Upon receiving this gift, Mr. Truman said: “I plan to place this candelabrum besides another gift I have received from Israel and have them both on exhibition at the library I am building at Grand View. That other gift is a silver ark that contains the Law. It was given to me by the late President Weizmann and, like this candelabrum, it was made in Israel.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
